Vehicle steering column installation

ABSTRACT

A vehicle steering system wherein the steering column assembly is adapted for simplified and accurate installation on the body portion of the vehicle, the system including a yoke at the lower end of the steering column assembly defining a pair of trunions, a pair of receptacles on the body portion for receiving the trunions to support the column assembly on the body portion for pivotal movement to a fully installed position, a striker on the body portion, and a latch bolt on the steering column adapted for automatic latching engagement on the striker when the steering column assembly achieves the fully installed position thereby to maintain the column assembly in the fully installed position.

Durltee et a1.

Plant [1 1 [45] Tab. l9, tam

[ vnmcrn s'rrnmno COLUMN 1NTALLAT1UN [73] Assignee: General MotorstCorporaihion,

Detroit, Mich.

221 Filed: net. 22, 11972 211 App]. No.: 317,726

3,724,290 4/1973 Burton 74/493 FORETGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,187,5052/1965 Germany 74/493 Primary ExaminerAllan D. Hermann Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Saul Schwartz [5 7] ABSTRACT A vehicle steering system whereinthe steering column assembly is adapted for simplified and accurateinstallation on the body portion of the vehicle, the system including ayoke at the lower end of the steering column assembly defining a pair oftrunions, a pair of receptacles on the body portion for receiving thetrunions to support the column assembly on the body portion for pivotalmovement to a fully installed position, a striker on the body portion,and a latch bolt on the steering column adapted for automatic latchingengagement on the striker when the steering column assembly achieves thefully installed position thereby to maintain the column assembly in thefully installed position.

6 Claims, Drawing Figures PATENIED FEB I 9 i974 SHEET 2 BF 5 VEHICLESTEERING COLUMN INSTALLATION This invention relates generally to vehiclesteering systems and more particularly to the attachment of the steeringcolumn assembly portion of the system to the body of the vehicle.

Typically, a steering column assembly for a modern automobile is anelongated structure having a substantial mass concentration at the hubor steering wheel end and includes a pair of outer tube or mast jacketsections adapted for telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode. Toadequately support the column assembly, and particularly the hub end, onthe body of the vehicle, the lower end of one of the mast jacketsections is usually anchored to the tire wall or bulkhead portion of thebody while the other of the mast jacket sections is bolted toreinforcing members behind the instrument panel through releasablefasteners which permit collapse of the column assembly under impact butwhich rigidly support the hub end of the column assembly during normaloperation. As might be expected, installing the column assembly duringassembly of the vehicle is a time consuming and, therefore, expensiveoperation. A vehicle steering system according to this inventionincorporates a steering column assembly which is significantly caiser toinstall on the body and which is automatically correctly aligned duringinstallation.

The primary feature, then, of this invention is that it provides animproved vehicle steering system wherein the steering column assembly isadapted for rapid and simplified attachment to the body portion of thevehicle. Another feature of this invention resides in the provision onthe column assembly and on the body portion ofa guide and followerarrangement for effecting accurate and automatic alignment of the columnportion during the installation procedure. Yet another feature of'thisinvention resides in the provision on the column assembly and on thebody portion of a socket and re ceptacle arrangement for effecting apivotal connection between the base of the column assembly and the bodyportion and in the provision of a latch and striker arrangement foreffecting automatic support of the hub end of the column assembly on thebody portion when the assembly is pivoted toward the instrument panel.Still another feature of this invention resides in the provision of alatch which when engaged on the striker provides an opening whereby thelatch and striker are relatively separable in a direction parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the steering column assembly thereby to permitlongitudinal collapse of the column assembly under impact. A stillfurther feature of this invention resides in the provision of a guide onthe body portion adapted for closely receiving a projection on thecolumn assembly to accurately align the column assembly while stillpermitting longitudinal collapse of the latter.

These and other features of this invention will be readily apparent fromthe following specification and from the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forward interior sectionof the body portion of an automobile type vehicle and incorporating asteering system according to this invention and showing the steeringcolumn assembly in a semi-installed position;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. I but showing the steering column assembly ina fully-installed position;

FIG. 3 is a partially borken away view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 3-3 in FIG. 1 and showing the steering columnassembly in the semi installed and the fully-installed positions insolid and broken lines respectively;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken ganerally along the plane indicated bylines 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated bylines 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the planeindicated by lines 77 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the plane indicated bylines 8-44 in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. I and 2 depict the forward sectionof the interior of the body portion of an automobile type vehicle, thebody portion being defined at the forward end by a fire wall or bulkheadllfl which merges with a floor panel ll2 inclduing a transmission tunnel14. The fire wall 10 projects upwardly from the floor 12 and has rigidlyattached thereto a pair of braces 16 defining a longitudinally extending channel-shaped enclosure 18. Another brace 20 projects rigidlyfrom the fire wall ilti and pivotally supports at 22 a brake pedal 24. Apush rod 26 projects through the fire wall It and has one end, notshown, connected to a conventional brake master cylinder assembly andthe other end pivotally connected at 23 to the brake pedal 24. Anaccelerator control bellcrank 30 is pivotally supported on the fire wallIt) by a bracket 32 and has a conventional accelerator pedal pad 34disposed on one end thereof, the other end of the bellcrank beingconnected at 36, FIG. 2, to one end of a throttle control cable 38. Theaccelerator pedal pad 34 and a pad 40 disposed on the end of the brakepedal 24 are adaped to be actuated by the foot of the operator of thevehicle seated on a seat 42, the seat being 'mounted on the floor 12through a conventional adjuster arrangement, not shown. A steeringcolumn assembly designated generally 44 is disposed between the seat 42and the fire wall 10 and represents a portion of a vehicle steeringsystem according to this invention, the remainder of the steering systemincluding a conventional manual or power assisted steering gear,appropriate steering linkage and the like, not shown.

Referring particularly now to FIGS. ll through 5, the column assembly 44includes a lower mast jacket section 46, an upper mast jacket section 48and a steering shaft 50. The steering shaft is rotatably journaledwithin the mast jacket sections and functions to transfer steeringtorque from a steering wheel, not shown, disposed on a knurld endportion 51 of the steering shaft to a conventional flexible coupling,not shown, connected to the input shaft of the steering gear. The uppermast jacket section is adapted for telescopic bodily movement relativeto the lower mast jacket section in an energy absorbing mode when thecolumn assembly is subjected to a compressive impact, the steering shaft50 also being adapted for simultaneous longitudinal collapse. At itsoutboard end adjacent the knurled portion 511 of the steering shaft, thecolumn assembly 44 includes a hub portion 52 which is surrounded by arotatable shift bowl 53 and a stationary skirt 54. The hub portion 52houses the steering shaft bearings, the ignition and steering lockarrangement, the turn signal switch assembly and the like while theshift bowl 53 supports the transmission range selector lever, not shown.

As seen best in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 8, the lower mast jacket section 46projects through an aperture 55 in the fire wall 10, the clearance spacebetween the mast jacket section 46 and the aperture 55 being sealed by aboot 56. A bracket 58, FIG. 7, in the form of an inverted channel isrigidly supported above the lower mast jacket section 46 inboard of thefire wall by appropriate bracing members 60, FIGS. 1 and 2, and includesa pair of transverse flanges 62. Each of the flanges 62 has rigidlyattached thereto an L-shaped member 64 which cooperates with thecorresponding one of the flanges 62 in defining a pair of channelsextending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steering columnassembly 44. A pair of stop pins 66, FIGS. 7 and 8, project verticallybetween the flanges 62 and the members 64 to obstruct passage throughthe channels defined thereby. A spring clip 68 is disposed on each ofthe flanges 62 of the bracket 58 and retained against longitudinalmovement by the stop pin 66 and a crimped over portion 70 of the clip.

As seen best in FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8, a yoke 72 is rigidly attached tothe lower mast jacket section 46, as by welding, and includes a pair oftrunions 74 extending laterally in opposite directions in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the steering column assembly.Each of the trunions is adapted to be received in a corresponding one ofthe channels defined by the flanges 62 and the members 64, the trunionsabutting the stop pins 66 and being retained thereagainst by the springclip 68, FIG. 8. The trunions 74 are circular in cross-section, FIG. 8,so that the members 64 and flanges 62 cooperate with the trunions insupporting the lower mast jacket section 46, and hence the steeringcolumn assembly, on the body portion of the vehicle for pivotal movementabout an axis defined by the trunions between a semi-installed positionshown in FIG. 1 and in solid lines in FIG. 3, and a fully-installedposition, shown in FIG. 2 and in broken lines in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6, a generally u-shaped latchsupport member 76 is rigidly attached to the upper mast jacket section48 by a plurality of conventional, threaded fasteners 78 and includes apair of parallel, laterally spaced wall portions 80. Each wall portion80 terminates at the top in a generally horizontal edge 81, the edge 81intersecting a perpendicular vertical edge 82 formed on each wallportion 80.

One of a pair of rivets 83 projects rigidly from each wall portion androtatably supports a respective one of a pair of fork type latch bolts84. As seen best in FIG. 6, each latch bolt 84 includes a mouth portion86 and a shoulder 88. A torsion spring 90 is coiled about each of therivets 83 and bears at one end against a corresponding one of the latchbolts 84 and at the other end against an arm portion 92 of a respectiveone of a pair of detent levers 94, each of the detent levers 94 beingpivotally supported on a respective one of a pair of rivets 96projecting rigidly from the corresponding one of the wall portions 80.The springs 90 bias the latch bolts 84 in a counterclockwise direction,FIG. 6, from a latched position to an unlatched position, shownrespectively in broken and solid lines in FIG. 6. Similarly, the springs90. bias the detent levers 94 in a counterclockwise direction toward adetenting position, FIG. 6, wherein a shoulder 98 on each detent leverengages the corresponding shoulder 88 to retain the latch bolts in thelatched position. The detent levers, of course, are pivotable from thedetenting position to a releasing position, not shown, wherein theshoulders 98 lie remote from the shoulders 88 thereby to release thelatch bolts for pivotal movement to the unlatched position. Fur ther,each latch bolt includes a cam 100 which is engageable on a corresondingcam portion 102 on each detent lever during movement of the latch boltsfrom the unlatched to the latched position, the cams 100 functioning topivot the detent levers 94 clockwise out of the detenting position untilthe shoulders 88 pass beyond the shoulders 98 whereupon the springs 90rotate the detent levers back to the detenting position. The latch bolts84 are adapted for latching engagement on corresponding ones of a pairof U-bolt strikers 104, FIGS. 1 and 2, rigidly attached to the braces 16within the channel-shaped enclosure 18 defined thereby.

As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the channel-shaped enclosure 18 definedby the braces 16 has disposed therein an inverted channel-shaped plate106 which has rigidly attached thereto an alignment guide 108 in theform of an inverted U. The alignment guide is adapted to receive acomplementary alignment projection 110 rigidly attached to the uppermast jacket section 48 of the steering column assembly, the alignmentprojection including a resilient body portion 112 and a wear plate 114.

The hub portion 52 of the steering column assembly 44 is generallyconventional in construction and may include a coincidental ignition,steering and transmission lock. For a full and complete description of asatisfactory coincidental lock, reference may be made to US. Pat. No.3,490,255, issued to Wight et al on Jan. 20, 1970 and assigned to theassignee of this invention. Generally, however, the coincidental lockincludes a slide bolt 116, FIG. 3, which reciprocates longitudinally ofthe hub portion 52 in response to rotation of a key in the ignitionlock, not shown, mounted on the hub portion. A rod 118 is connected atone end to the bolt 116 at 120 and at the other end to a contactelement, not shown, disposed within an ignition switch 122, the switchbeing rigidly attached to the upper mast jacket section 48 through aplurality of connectors adapted for fracture at a predetermined shearforce level. The switch includes a plurality of receptacle-typeelectrical contacts, not shown, which are adapted to receive acorresponding plurality of pin-type contacts, not shown, disposed on aterminal block 124 attached to a structurally rigid part of the bodyportion. The terminal block 124 is connected through conventionalconductive leads to the appropriate vehicle components such as theengine starter motor. Accordingly, when the rod 118 reciprocates, thevarious conductive leads are energized to achieve normal vehicleoperation.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the hub portion 52 further includes a turnsignal switch assembly 126 responsive to actuation of a conventionalturn signal lever, not shown, mounted on the hub portion. For a full andcomplete description of an appropriate turn signal switch assembly,reference may be made to US. Pat. No. 3,510,839, issued on May 5, 1970,in the name of Elliott et al and assigned to the assignee of thisinvention. The switch assembly, of course, includes a plurality ofconductive leads which are arranged to terminate at a connector 128attached to the switch assembly.

The connector 128 includes an elongated keying projection 130 whichextends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steering columnassembly in the annular space between the upper mast jacket section andthe skirt 54. The keying projection 130 is non-circular in transversecross-section and includes a retaining lip 132. The keying projection isadapted to function as a key and a guide for a connector 135 which has awire harness 136 attached thereto. The connector 134 is adapted to fitover the projection 130 and to slide therealong between the upper mastjacket section and the skirt until mating connection is achieved withthe connector 128. The wire harness 136 has a third connector 138, FIGS.1 and 2, attached thereto which is adapted for simple plug in connectionwith a similar connector remote from the hub.

The steering column assembly and associated structure describedhereinbefore are particularly intended to simplify and accelerateinstallation of the column assembly in the vehicle. The installationprocedure, of course, begins with the column assembly out of the vehicleand the latch bolts 84 in the unlatched position under the influence ofthe springs 90. The lower or left end of the column assembly, FIG. 3, isinserted in the aperture 55 in the fire wall and moved forwardly of thebody portion unitl the trunions 74 enter the channels defined by themembers 64 and the flanges 62 where upon the trunions are thrust pastthe spring clips and into engagementon the stop pins 66, the pinsdefining the furthest forward position of the column assembly. At thisstage of the installation procedure the column assembly assumes thesemi-installed position, shown in solid FIG. 3 and in FIG. 2, disposedsubstantially below the strikers 104.

As seen best in FIGS. 3 and 6, the longitudinal distance on the steeringcolumn assembly between the trunions 74 and the vertical edges 82 on thelatch support member is relatively closely controlled and is slightlygreater than the distance between the stop pins 66 and the strikers 104on the body portion of the vehicle. Accordingly, as the steering columnassembly is pivoted counterclockwise, FIG. 3, about the axis de fined bythe trunions 74 from the semi-installed position toward thefully-installed position, the curved upper portions ofthe vertical edges82 engage the strikers so that the wall portions 80 wedge slightlyagainst the strikers to eliminate any looseness between the columnassembly and the body portion of the vehicle.

As the steering column assembly approaches the fully-installed position,the strikers are received in the mouth portions 86 of the latch bolts84, the bolts then being rotated by the strikers from the unlatched tothe latched position. The bolts each achieve the latched position atsubstantially the instant the strikers contact the horizontal edges 81of the wall portion 80 whereupon the shoulders 98 on the detent levers94 engage the shoulder 88 on the latch bolts to retain the steeringcolumn assembly in the fully-installed position. Of course, should it benecessary to lower the steering column assembly from the fully installedposition, the arm portions 92 of the detent levers may be grasped and actuated to pivot the detent levers to the releasing position.

Simultaneously with movement of the column assembly to the fullyinstalled position, the alignment projection 110 enters the alignmentguide 108 to effect transverse alignment of the steering columnassembly. The

resilient body portion 112 of the projection cushions the engagementbetween the latter and the guide 108 while the wear plate 114 functionsto protect the resilient body portion against excessive abrasion.Similarly, as the column assembly approaches the fully installedposition, the switch 122 engages the terminal block 124. When the fullyinstalled position is achieved the electrical contacts on the switch andon the terminal block are firmly engaged so that subsequent actuation ofthe coincidental lock on the hub portion 52 effects energization of theappropriate electrical circuits of the vehicle.

The steering column assembly 4-4, as recited hereinbefore, is adaptedfor telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode when subjected to alongitudinal compressive impact. The trunions 74 anchor the lower end ofthe lower mast jacket section 46 on the body portion of the vehicle toprevent bodily movement in the direction of telescopic collapse. As seenbest in FIG. 3, when the latch bolts 84 are in the latched position themouth portions 86 capture corresponding ones of the strikers 104 to holdthe column assembly in the fully-installed position. The mouth portions,however, are oriented such that each opens toward the rear of thevehicle. Accordingly, while vertical movement of the upper mast jacketsection is foreclosed, the latter can be shifted longitudinally in thedirection of telescopic collapse or toward the front of the body portionof the vehicle. Similarly, as best seen in FIG. 1, the alignment guide108 is open at both ends so that bodily shiftable movement of thealignment porjection 110 with the upper mast jacket section is notobstructed. Finally, the ignition switch 122 attached to the upper mastjacket section 48 is adapted to shear away from the latter duringcollaspe of the column assembly thereby creating no obstruction to suchcollapse.

Conversely, in the event of an impact at the steering gear or lower endof the steering column assembly which might tend to force the latterrearwardly of the body portion of the vehicle, the trunions 74 areadapted to snap out of the channels defined by the flanges 62 and themembers 64. The vertical edges 82 on the wall portions 80, however,prevent bodily move ment of the upper mast jacket section 48 rearwardlyof the vehicle body. Accordingly, in the event of a rearwardly directedimpact, the column assembly is adapted to collapse along itslongitudinal axis but in the opposite direction without the upper mastjacket section penetrating further into the interior of the body portionof the vehicle.

As the final step in the column assembly installation procedure, theconnector 134 is centered on the projection of the turn signal connector128 and shifted along the projection until engagement between the twoconnectors 128 and 134 are achieved. The projection 130 orients theconnector 134 in the proper position to achieve a proper albeit blindconnection with the connector 128 while the tab 132 prevents inadvertentwithdrawal of the connector 128 from the hub.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In a vehicleincluding a body portion, the combination comprising, a collapsiblesteering column assembly including a lower mast jacket section and anupper mast jacket section disposed on said lower section for telescopiccollapse in an energy absorbing mode, means supporting one end of saidlower mast jacket section on said body portion for pivotal movementbetween a semi-installed position and fully-installed position, means onsaid body portion and on said lower mast jacket section adapted toprevent longitudinal bodily shiftable movement of said lower mast jacketsection in the direction corresponding to relative telescopic collapseof said upper mast jacket section, striker means dispossed on one ofsaid body portion and said upper mast jacket section, latch meansdisposed on the other of said body portion and said upper mast jacketsection and adapted for automatic latching engagement on said strikermeans in response to pivotal movement of said steering column assemblyfrom the semi-installed position to the fully installed position therebyto maintain said steering column assembly in the fully-installedposition, and means disposed between said upper mast jacket section andin said body portion adapted for permitting longitudinal bodilyshiftable movement of said upper mast jacket section in the direction ofrelative telescopic collapse thereof when said steering column assemblyis in the fullyinstalled position.

2. In a vehicle including a body portion, the combination comprising, acollapsible steering column assembly including a lower mast jacketsection and an upper mast jacket section disposed on said lower mastjacket section for telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode,means disposed on said lower mast jacket section generally adjacent oneend thereof defining a pair of rigid trunions on opposite sides of saidlower mast jacket section oriented along an axis generally normal to thelongitudinal axis of said steering column assembly, receptacle meansdisposed on said body portion and adapted for rotatably supporting eachof said trun ions on said body portion while preventing bodily movementof said trunions generally in the direction of relative telescopiccollapse of said upper mast jacket section, said receptacle meansthereby supporting said steering column assembly on said body portionfor pivotal movement between a semi-installed position and a fullyinstalled position, striker means disposed on one of said body portionsand said upper mast jacket section, latch means disposed on the other ofsaid body portion and said upper mast jacket section and adapted forautomatic latching engagement on said striker means in response topivotal movement of said steering column assembly from thesemi-installed position to the fully installed position thereby tomaintain said steering column assembly in the fully installed position,and means disposed between said upper mast jacket section and said bodyportion adapted for permitting longitudinal bodily shiftable movement ofsaid upper mast jacket section in the direction of relative telescopiccollapse thereof when said steering column assembly is in thefully-installed position.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 further including guide means onsaid body portion and on said steering column assembly adapted foraligning said steering column assembly in a predetermined longitudinallyoriented vertical plane of said body portion when said steering columnassembly achieves the fully-installed position thereof.

4. In a vehicle including a body portion, the combination comprising, acollapsible steering column assembly including a lower mast jacketsection and an upper mast jacket section disposed on said lower sectionfor telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode,

means supporting one end of said lower mast jacket section on said bodyportion for pivotal movement between a semi-installed position and afully-installed position, means on said body portion and on said lowermast jacket section adapted to prevent longitudinal bodily shiftablemovement of said lower mast jacket section in the directioncorresponding to relative telescopic collapse of said second mast jacketsection, striker means rigidly disposed on said body portion anddefining a cross bar section oriented in a plane normal to thelongitudinal axis of said steering column assem bly, a latch boltdefining a mouth portion, means sup porting said latch bolt on saidupper mast jacket section for pivotal movement between a latchedposition and an unlatched position, detent means on said upper mastjacket section engageable on said latch bolt for maintaining the latterin the latched position, said cross bar section with said latch bolt inthe unlatched position being received in said latch bolt mount portionduring movement of said steering column assembly from the semi-installedposition to the fully-installed position so that said latch bolt isautomatically pivoted to the latched position when said steering columnassembly achieves the fully-installed position thereby to maintain saidsteering column assembly in the fully installed position, said latchbolt in the latched position thereof being oriented relative to saidsteering column assembly and said cross bar section such that said mouthportion permits unrestricted bodily shiftable movement of said uppermast jacket section in the direction of relative telescopic collapse ofthe latter.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 further including an alignmentprojection rigidly attached to one of said upper mast jacekt section andsaid body portion and an alignment receptacle rigidly attached to theother of said upper mast jacket section and said body portion, saidprojection being received in said receptacle during movement of saidsteering column assembly to the fully-installed position thereof foreffecting alignment of the latter in a predetermined longitudinallyoriented vertical plane of said body portion.

6. In a vehicle including a body portion, the combination comprising, acollapsible steering column assembly including a lower mast jacketsection and an upper mast jacket section disposed on said lower mastjacket section for telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode,means disposed on said lower mast jacket section generally adjacent oneend thereof defining a pair of rigid trunions on opposite sides of saidlower mast jacket section oriented along an axis generally normal to thelongitudinal axis of said steering column assembly, receptacle meansdisposed on said body portion and adapted for rotatably supporting eachof said trunions on said body portion while preventing bodily movementof said trunions generally in the direction of relative telescopiccollapse of said upper mast jacket section, said receptacle meansthereby supporting said steering column assembly on said body portionfor pivotal movement between a semi-installed position and a fullyinstalled position, striker means rigidly disposed on said body portionand defining a cross bar section oriented in a plane normal to thelongitudinal axis of said steering column assembly, a latch boltdefining a mouth portion, means supporting said latch bolt on said uppermast jacket section for pivotal movement between a latched position andan unlatched position, and detent means on said upper mast jacketsection engage- 9 lb able on said latch bolt for maintaining the latterin the umn assembly in the fully installed position, said latch latchedPosition, Said cross bar Section with Said latch bolt in the latchedposition thereof being oriented rela bolt in the unlatghed P d beingreceived l tive to said steering column assembly and said cross barlatch bolt mom portion unng movement Sald section such that said mouthportion permits unresteering column assembly from the semi-installedposition to the fully-installed position so that said latch bolt Smctedbodily Shlftable movement of sand upper mabt is automatically pivoted tothe latched position when jacket section in the direction of relativetelescopic colsaid steering column assembly achieves the fullylapse ofthe installed position thereby to maintain said steering col-

1. In a vehicle including a body portion, the combination comprising, acollapsible steering column assembly including a lower mast jacketsection and an upper mast jacket section disposed on said lower sectionfor telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode, means supportingone end of said lower mast jacket section on said body portion forpivotal movement between a semi-installed position and a fully-installedposition, means on said body portion and on said lower mast jacketsection adapted to prevent longitudinal bodily shiftable movement ofsaid lower mast jacket section in the direction corresponding torelative telescopic collapse of said upper mast jacket section, strikermeans disposed on one of said body portion and said upper mast jacketsection, latch means disposed on the other of said body portion and saidupper mast jacket section and adapted for automatic latching engagementon said striker means in response to pivotal movement of said steeringcolumn assembly from the semi-installed position to the fully installedposition thereby to maintain said steering column assembly in thefully-installed position, and means disposed between said upper mastjacket section and in said body portion adapted for permittinglongitudinal bodily shiftable movement of said upper mast jacket sectionin the direction of relative telescopic collapse thereof when saidsteering column assembly is in the fully-installed position.
 2. In avehicle including a body portion, the combination comprising, acollapsible steering column assembly including a lower mast jacketsection and an upper mast jacket section disposed on said lower mastjacket section for telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode,means disposed on said lower mast jacket section generally adjacent oneend thereof defining a pair of rigid trunions on opposite sides of saidlower mast jacket section oriented along an axis generally normal to thelongitudinal axis of said steering column assembly, receptacle meansdisposed on said body portion and adapted for rotatably supporting eachof said trunions on said body portion while preventing bodily movementof said trunions generally in the direction of relative telescopiccollapse of said upper mast jacket section, said receptacle meansthereby supporting said steering column assembly on said body portionfor pivotal movement between a semi-installed position and a fullyinstalled position, striker means disposed on one of said body portionsand said upper mast jacket section, latch means disposed on the other ofsaid body portion and said upper mast jacket section and adapted forautomatic latching engagement on said striker means in response topivotal movement of said steering column assembly from thesemi-installed position to the fully installed position thereby tomaintain said steering column assembly in the fully installed position,and means disposed between said upper mast jacket section and said bodyportion adapted for permitting longitudinal bodily shiftable movement ofsaid upper mast jacket section in the direction of relative telescopiccollapse thereof when said steering column assembly is in thefully-installed position.
 3. The combination recited in claim 2 furtherincluding guide means on said body portion and on said steering columnassembly adapted for aligning said steering column assembly in apredetermined longitudinally oriented vertical plane of said bodyportion when said steering column assembly achieves the fully-installedposition thereof.
 4. In a vehicle including a body portion, thecombination comprising, a collapsible steering column assembly includinga lower mast jacket section and an upper mast jacket section disposed onsaid lower section for telescopic collapse in an energy absorbing mode,means supporting one end of said lower mast jacket section on said bodyportion for pivotal movement between a semi-installed position and afully-installed position, means on said body portion and on said lowermast jacket section adapted to prevent longitudinal bodily shiftablemovement of said lower mast jacket section in the directioncorresponding to relative telescopic collapse of said second mast jacketsection, striker means rigidly disposed on said body portion anddefining a cross bar section oriented in a plane normal to thelongitudinal axis of said steering column assembly, a latch boltdefining a mouth portion, means supporting said latch bolt on said uppermast jacket section for pivotal movement between a latched position andan unlatched position, detent means on said upper mast jacket sectionengageable on said latch bolt for maintaining the latter in the latchedposition, said cross bar section with said latch bolt in the unlatchedposition being received in said latch bolt mount portion during movementof said steering column assembly from the semi-installed position to thefully-installed position so that said latch bolt is automaticallypivoted to the latched position when said steering column assemblyachieves the fully-installed position thereby to maintain said steeringcolumn assembly in the fully installed position, said latch bolt in thelatched position thereof being oriented relative to said steering columnassembly and said cross bar section such that said mouth portion permitsunrestricted bodily shiftable movement of said upper mast jacket sectionin the direction of relative telescopic collapse of the latter.
 5. Thecombination recited in claim 4 further including an alignment projectionrigidly attached to one of said upper mast jacket section and said bodyportion and an alignment receptacle rigidly attached to the other ofsaid upper mast jacket section and said body portion, said projectionbeing received in said receptacle during movement of said steeringcolumn assembly to the fully-installed position thereof for effectingalignment of the latter in a predetermined longitudinally orientedvertical plane of said body portion.
 6. In a vehicle including a bodyportion, the cOmbination comprising, a collapsible steering columnassembly including a lower mast jacket section and an upper mast jacketsection disposed on said lower mast jacket section for telescopiccollapse in an energy absorbing mode, means disposed on said lower mastjacket section generally adjacent one end thereof defining a pair ofrigid trunions on opposite sides of said lower mast jacket sectionoriented along an axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis of saidsteering column assembly, receptacle means disposed on said body portionand adapted for rotatably supporting each of said trunions on said bodyportion while preventing bodily movement of said trunions generally inthe direction of relative telescopic collapse of said upper mast jacketsection, said receptacle means thereby supporting said steering columnassembly on said body portion for pivotal movement between asemi-installed position and a fully installed position, striker meansrigidly disposed on said body portion and defining a cross bar sectionoriented in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said steeringcolumn assembly, a latch bolt defining a mouth portion, means supportingsaid latch bolt on said upper mast jacket section for pivotal movementbetween a latched position and an unlatched position, and detent meanson said upper mast jacket section engageable on said latch bolt formaintaining the latter in the latched position, said cross bar sectionwith said latch bolt in the unlatched position being received in saidlatch bolt mouth portion during movement of said steering columnassembly from the semi-installed position to the fully-installedposition so that said latch bolt is automatically pivoted to the latchedposition when said steering column assembly achieves the fully-installedposition thereby to maintain said steering column assembly in the fullyinstalled position, said latch bolt in the latched position thereofbeing oriented relative to said steering column assembly and said crossbar section such that said mouth portion permits unrestricted bodilyshiftable movement of said upper mast jacket section in the direction ofrelative telescopic collapse of the latter.